The Armenian national team’s home match against Georgia is scheduled for March 20 in Yerevan, but tickets for the game have yet to go on sale. Today is March 7, and fans are beginning to question the reasons for the delay. Meanwhile, the return match in Georgia on March 23 has already sold out, filling the 54,000-seat Dinamo Arena.
Why hasn’t the Armenian Football Federation (FFA) started ticket sales yet? Sportaran.com is investigating the situation.
UEFA Sanctions Against Armenia
One key reason could be UEFA’s decision to impose sanctions on Armenia’s national team. Restrictions were placed on the team following their UEFA Nations League match against the Faroe Islands (0:1) on November 14, 2024. As a result, UEFA’s Disciplinary Committee issued the following penalties:
- A €20,000 fine and partial stadium closure (500 adjacent seats in the southern and southeastern stands) for the next UEFA-organized home match (against Georgia on March 20) due to the use of pyrotechnics.
- A €17,500 fine for displaying banners that did not comply with UEFA regulations.
- A two-year probation period, during which any further violations could lead to more severe sanctions.
Possible Scenarios
So far, the FFA has not made an official statement regarding ticket sales for the match against Georgia. However, several scenarios are possible:
- Limited ticket sales – The FFA might restrict the number of tickets sold to avoid violating the terms of UEFA’s sanctions.
- A match behind closed doors – To minimize the risk of harsher penalties, the federation could consider holding the match without spectators. Hopefully, this won’t happen!
- Delays due to organizational issues – The FFA may be negotiating with UEFA on the conditions for fan attendance to minimize risks.
For now, fans are left waiting for official information. They remain hopeful that the match will be played in front of spectators, even with limitations. The situation should become clearer in the coming days, and we will continue to monitor developments.